Gary Rowett speaks out about Derby's play-off hopes

New Derby boss Gary Rowett is refusing to rule his team out of the play-off race

The Rams have won just one of their last nine games to slip out of contention and find themselves 10 points behind sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday with nine games left to play.

"Anything is possible and we are coming here with a very open mind," Rowett told the club's official website. "It’s been said to me already that I come in here with nine games and try things out.

"That’s true, of course, but I think the key for me is to hit the ground running.

"We’re coming in to try and win games, but we know that there are going to be changes and there are going to be some bumps over those last nine games.

"It’s a good situation to be in.

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“Anything is possible and we are coming here with a very open mind”

Gary Rowett

"There’s no pressure at either end of the table and we can come in and just be incredibly positive.

"If we can get some early results then who knows what can happen.

"There is always one team that makes a late charge for the play-offs; we saw it with Norwich a couple of seasons ago.

"I’m not going to sit here and say this is what we are going to do, but we are going to have a very good try."

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Gary Rowett is determined to fashion a team at Derby

Rowett has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal to succeed Steve McClaren, who was sacked in the wake of Friday's 3-0 defeat at Brighton.

Derby have failed to live up to their potential this season and Rowett is determined to build a team at the iPro Stadium.

"We know there is a talented group of players here and I am thoroughly focused on just finding that right balance and those right ingredients to get the best out of them," Rowett said.

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"For me, that will never change.

"I want to impart enough of my knowledge on to the team and encourage them to put in the kind of performances that the supporters want to see and the type of energy that can go with some of those talents.